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Day: 2007-10-28

Just some fast notes from Saturday’s campaign. Mostly about the centre parties.

Social Liberals drop demand for the scrapping of the 24-year rule

This one no doubt hurt a lot of SLP faithful as the demand for the scrapping of the 24-year rule (which means that both members of a married couple have to be over 24 to be allowed to stay in Denmark) was one of the ultimatums posed by the former leadership. The problem was that the Social Democrats after an agonising process accepted the present government’s policy and insisting on scrapping the 24-year rule would only have reopened deep wounds within that party.

Potential effects: Makes a SD – SLP – SP coalition look more credible. Disgruntled SLP voters now only have the Unity List as an alternative. The move could see UL safely over the threshold.

Ny Alliance wants the government to resign and force new formation negotiations

A classic chicken game out of Politics 101: NA wants to increase its political weight, the government to tie NA into supporting the government before the election.

Potential effects: A question of nerves. Look no further than 1987 when Poul Schlüter played truth or dare with the Social Liberals, or 1975 which turned into a month-long formation crisis. If NA gets to hold the balance, we could be in for a potentially unstable government, depending on Anders Fogh’s reaction.